True Blood Fans Seek Fictional Bon Temps

Louisiana‘s fictional backwater town of Bon Temps is maybe a few hours drive from New Orleans in Charlaine Harris‘ vampire-filled world.

In the real world, fans have looked to Shreveport and Monroe for a taste of the rural northern Louisiana scenery found on True Blood, according to a Houston Chronicle travel article.

Shreveport, home to fictional vampire bar Fangtasia, is a bona fide Louisiana town, complete with its own tourist bureau. Brandy Evans, a bureau spokeswoman, recounts in the article the numerous inquires made after the fang-banger hot spot.

“Everybody wants to know about the True Blood bar. We don’t have a vampire bar, but we do have lots of other bars.”

The True Blood crew shot on location in Clinton, La., during Season 2, and has also filmed in Baton Rouge.

“I think Louisiana has always been associated with things that are mysterious and out of the norm, and that is what makes the state so much fun and interesting and unique.”

However there is a way to “visit” Bon Temps by checking out the “Welcome To Bon Temps” website. It provides a detailed “map” on how to get there, what you can do and see once there and detailed information on Louisiana culture. It even profiles some of the town’s better know residents such as Sookie Stackhouse, Sam Merlotte and vampireBill Compton.

Having lived in north louisiana almost all my life and growing up relatively near most places in the books (shreveport, monroe, ruston, etc) I’ve been thinking a lot lately about just which town in north louisiana “bon temp” would be nearest and I narrowed it down to three after reading the first few books, Gibsland, Arcadia, and Minden. I don’t think Gibsland is large enough so scratch it and that leaves Arcadia and Minden. At one point in one of the first few books it mentions something on the “Shreveport Road”. Well, Minden HAS a “Shreveport Road”. It’s possible Bon Temp is a compilation of several towns but it would seem to fit best since it’s the only town of real significance betweeen shrevrpot and monroe, except ruston which is mentioned by name. But, I’m only on book four so I could be totally wrong LOL.

Antonio

Wow! This is Incredible! I suppose if the small town of Forks,WA including La Push and Port Angeles can draw visitors and fans of Ms.Meyer’s Twilight books Then I’m sure that there can also be a Big draw for avid TB fans to visit in Northern LA!
Shreveport and Monroe sound cool Both towns are even mentioned by name in the show…How Cool is That?? The funny thing Is: That Bon Temps is French for Good Times Which is cool because Everytime that I visit there (thru HBO re-runs or dvd sets or On-Demand) I always seem to have a “good time” just “hanging around” Sam’s bar! Fangtasia is Always a Blast! Its nice,too to spend time hangin out with Sookie & Bill!
I would love to get up to Forks one day and see the indian reservation and the beaches complete with seastacks Not to mention the woods where Edward left Bella in NM. I’d also like to visit LA,Too! Just to see where Bill,The Stackhouse family and Sam’s Bar would have been!
This is just SO Cool!! 🙂

Amanda Brinkman

Great article! I love hearing about the tourism that surrounds True Blood.

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